Oscillating slate-picker.



J. T. NORMAN.

OSGILLATING SLATE PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.2, 1912.

1,053,858, Patented Feb. 18. 1913.

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griglia.

J. T. NORMAN OSGILLATING SLATE PICKER.

- APPLICATION FILED 0GT.2, 1912A 1,053,858.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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COLUMNA C0" WASHINGTBN. D. C.

UIdF/11242D STATES FAIENT FFIQE.

JOSEPH 'I'. NORMAN, OF NANTICOKE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 NORMANPICKER CO., 0F NANTICOKE, ENNSYLVANIA, A PARTNERSHIP.

OSCILLATING SLATE-PICKER.

To all whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH T. NORMAN, residing at Nantieoke, in thecounty of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Oscillating Slate-Pickers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improved apparat-us for separating coal and slate,and it primarily has for its object to provide an apparatus in which arelatively large number of successive separations can be effected in amachine of moderate size.

The invention also has for its object to provide an apparatus in whichthe tiow of material is brought to a complete stop between eachseparation; to provide a machine wherein the material flows at a uniformspeed throughout the machine; to provide an apparatus in which thematerial on one deck cannot catch up with or bank up onto that of asucceeding deck; to provide an apparatus that cannot be overloaded andwill not clog up.

In its general nature, the invent-ion comprises an oseillatable framewhich supports a series of decks that are located one above another,alternate decks being directed in the same direction to form two sets ofdecks, one set discharging at one side of the machine, and the other setdischarging toward the opposite side. Each deck has a separate coal andslate discharge, the slate discharge -of a deck being arranged todeposit the slate and any coal that falls through with it, onto the nextdeck below for further separation, while the separated coal isdischarged directly from the machine.

More subordinately the invention includes those novel details ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will befirst fully described, and then be specifically pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich z- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of theapparatus. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section showing themanner of operating the machine. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Figs.5 and 6 are detail views of parts of the invention.

In the drawings like numerals of reference designate like parts in allthe figures.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Cctober 2, 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

serial No. 723,468.

Upon a suitable supporting base 1, on which bearings 2 are mounted, themain supporting shaft 3, is journaled. The shaft 3 carries anoscillatable frame 4 which is composed of vertical channel irons 5,those on one side being connected to those on the other side by crossbraces 6, the channel irons at one side being connected to each other bylongitudinally extending braces 7 which are also connected to thecentral vertical support 14".

1n my apparatus a plurality of separating decks are mounted on the frame4 in vertical succession and alternate decks discharge in one directionwhile the remainder discharge in the other direction. As theconstruction of each deck is substantially the same, a description ofone will be sutcient.

Each deck comprises a chute-like member consisting of sides 9 and abottom 10. The bottom 10, at the entrant end of the deck, is curved backas at 3 to form a receiving pocket, and the bottom 10 and sides 9 arebraced by a suitable reinforcing iron 11.

The sides o-f the chute are made in two sections hinged together as at29, and the bottom 10 is also provided with an adjustable ta le 13 ofslate or other suitable material which is held in the recess 12 of theforward end of the bottom 10. The recessed portion 12 of the bottom ismade separately from theremaining portion of the bottom, and the twoparts are hinged together as at 14 to enable the table 13 to be raisedo-r lowered as desired. The deck is supported in the frame 4 bylaterally projecting lugs or feet 15, which are bolted at 16 to the sidebars 7, which bars 7 may be slotted as at 17 to receive the bolts 16 andfor purposes of adjustment. In order to adjust the deck longitudinally,the underside is provided with rack portions 18 that engage pinions 20,on a shaft 19 which is mounted in the frame 4, and carries a ratchet 21to coperate with the pawl 22 and prevent the shaft 19 from turning undernormal conditie-ns. rEhe shaft 19 is provided with a turn-stile 23 bymeans of which it may be turned when the pawl 22 is disconnect-ed fromthe ratchet 21. The second deck from the top and those below it areprovided with discharge chutes 30 adjacent their entrant ends todischarge the coal from the next deck above the chutes 30, being securedat 31. The table 13 is adjust-ed on the hinge connection 14: by mea-nsof arms 25 that are carried on a shaft 224;, which is mounted in theframe ii and carries a ratchet 2G to coperate with the pawl 27. Theshaft 24x; is also provided. with a turn-stile 2S by means of which itmay be turned when desired.

The frame et is adapted to be oscillated on its axis by any suitablemeans, such as a crank and pitman arrangement, best shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, by reference to which figure it will be observed that 34indicates a driving shaft that carries the pulley 8G, which receivespower from any suitable source. The shaft also carries adjustable cranks35 that are connected to the f fame 4 at by the pitmen 37 designates thecoal piles, and 38 the slate pile, in Figs. l and 2.

In order to adjust the gap between the table 13 and the correspondingdischarge chute 30, the shafts 19 may be turned to move the deckslongitudinally to increase or diminish the gap as may be founddesirable.

In operation, the decks are adjusted to provide suitable jump spacesthrough which the heavierI slate may gravitate, while the lighter coaljumps the space and deposits on the discharge chutes 30. The operatorshovels or dumps the coal and slate onto the upper deck 8 when theapparatus is in the position shown in Fig. 2, or places the material onthe entrance or receiving deck in any desir-ed way. The movement of theshaft Sil will impart oscillation to the frame 4f to move it from theposition of Fig. 2 to an oppositely inclined position, and vice versa.Now as the frame l is rocked from one position to the other, thematerial on the alternate deck will slide off, the slate and some of thecoal carried with it will `drop into the pocket 8 of the nexty belowdeck, while the coal will jump the gap onto the chute 30 and bedischarged from the machine. As the machinev is rocked back, thematerial on the second deck from the top will be shot onto the thirddeck from the top, the separated coal passing out while the slate andcoal carried by it, will drop through onto the third deck and so on. Theslate is finally discharged in a pile 38 through the gap in thelowermost deck, intermediate the coal piles 37.

It will be understood, of course, that a fresh supply of lcoal and slateis deposited on the upper deck at each oscillation of the machine so asto keep a constant stream of material in the machine. It will also benoted that the speed of movement of the mass on each deck is the same,that is to say, the mass on one deck does not move any faster than themass on the other deck, and the movement of the mass is entirelyarrested as the apparatus reaches the limit of its inclination in eachdirection, as will clearly be understood by reference to Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

'Vhat 1 claim is :m

l. ln a slate picker, a longitudinally oscillatable frame, a set of coaland slate separating decks mounted in and carried by said frame,alternate decks discharging in opposite direction, said decks havingslate gaps, the slate gap of one deck discharging into the next belowdeck, and coal chutes cos operating with said decks for delivering theseparated coal out of the machine, means for oscillating said frame anddecks to a degree suilicient to alternately reverse the inclinations ofsaid decks.

2. In a coal and slate separator, a support, a shaft mounted in saidsupport, a skeleton frame mounted on said shaft and projecting upwardlytherefrom, and a plu rality of separatingl decks mounted in said framein vertical succession, alternate decks adapted to move the mass towardone side of the machine while the remaining decks are adapted to movethe mass toward the other side of the machine, each deck having separatecoal and slate discharges, the slate discharge of a deck delivering onto the next deck below, some of said decks including pocket portions toreceive the discharge from the above and a mechanism for rocking thesaid frame with said shaft as an axis to oscillate said decks to adegree suflicient to alternately reverse the inclinations thereof.

3. 1n a coal and slate separator, a support, a shaft mounted in saidsupport, a skeleton frame mounted on said shaft and projecting upwardlytherefrom., and a plurality of separating decks mounted in said frame invertical succession, alternate decks adapted to move the mass toward oneside of the machine while the remaining decks are adapted to move themass toward the other side of the machine, each deck having separatecoal and slate discharges, the slate discharge of a deck delivering onto the next deck below, some of said decks including pocket portions toreceive the discharge from the decks above, said decks also includingside portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the deck, saidside portions including upwardly project-ing members, coal dischargechutes having projecting sides t0 embrace said upwardly projectingmembers, means for adjustably holding said decks in position and amechanism for rocking the said frame with said shaft as an axis tooscillate said decks to a degree suliicient to alternately reverse theinclinations thereof.

4l. In a slate picker an oscillata-ble frame, a set of coal and slateseparating decks mounted in vertical succession in said frame, alternatedecks discharging in opposite directions, each of said decks including areceiving pocket near one end, and a slate retarding table near theother end, the table of one deck terminating short of the entrancepocket of the next below deck to leave a gap, means for longitudinallyadjusting the position of said decks to vary said gap and means foroscillating said Jframes and decks to a degree suficient to alternatelyreverse the inclinations of said decks.

5. In a slate picker an oscillatable frame, a set of coal and slateseparating decks mounted in vertical succession in said frame, alternatedecks discharging` in opposite directions, each of said decks includinga receiving pocket near one end, and a slate retarding table near theother end, the table of one deck terminating short of the entrancepocket of the next below deck to leave a gap, and means forlongitudinally7 adjusting the position of said decks to vary said gap,means for adjusting the plane of the table of a respective deck withoutchanging the position of the deck as a whole in the frame and means foroscillating said frame and decks to a degree sufficient to alternatelyreverse the inclinations of said decks.

6. In a slate picker an oscillatable frame, a set of coal and slateseparating decks mounted in said frame in vertical succession withalternate decks discharging in opposite directions, each of said deckscomprising a bottom and side members, said bottom being curved upwardlyat Aone end to form a receiving pocket, said bottom including a hingedtable section at its other end, means for supporting said decks inposition in said frame, and means for adjusting the plane of the tableof a respective deck, coal discharge chutes carried by certain of saiddecks at their entrant ends for receiving the discharged coal from thenext above deck and discharging it from the machine, the table of a deckbeing spaced from the discharge chute of the next below deck to leave ajump gap together with means for oscillating said frame and decks to adegree suficient to alternately reverse the inclinations of said decks.

7. In a slate picker an oscillatable frame, a set of coal and slateseparating decks mounted in said frame in vertical succession withalternate decks discharging in opposite directions, each of said deckscomprising a bottom and side members, said bottom being curved upwardlyat one end to form a receiving pocket, said bottom including a hingedtable section at its other end, means for supporting said decks inposition in said frame, and means for adjusting the plane of the tableof a respective deck, coal discharge chutes carried by certain of saiddecks at their entrant ends for receiving the discharged coal from thenext above deck and discharging it from the machine, the table of a deckbeing spaced from the discharge chute of the next below deck to leave ajump gap, and rack and pinion devices cooperative with said decks foradjusting the same lo-ngitudinally to thereby vary the length of saidgaps together with' means for oscillating said frame and decks to adegree sufficient to alternately reverse the inclinations of said decks.

JOSEPH T. NORMAN.

Witnesses:

HARRY I. RoBINs, RoBT. B. JOB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

